Four farmers died late on Tuesday (May 5, 2026) night in an incident triggered by strong gusty winds at a paddy mall between Kothur and Gampalpalli villages in Luxettipet mandal of Mancherial district. Four other farmers sustained injuries and were taken to the government hospital in Luxettipet for treatment.
According to local reports, farmers gathered at the mall to cover piles of grain with tarpaulins when strong winds picked up. As the wind picked up, they moved closer to the wall and nearby structures for cover.
The deceased have been identified as 24-year-old Gundarapu Venkatesh, 55-year-old Nilki Lachanna, 50-year-old Tangula Nagaraju and 22-year-old Tanugula Abhiram.
While three of them died on the spot, Nilki Lachanna, a resident of Mutyampet in Dandepalli mandal, who took shelter at the center while returning after dropping his son in a bus to Hyderabad, succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
Reacting to the incidents, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao expressed condolences and asked for ₹25 lakh ex gratia for the families of the deceased, besides better medical care for the injured. He also criticized the government for the delay in awarding public procurement and alleged that farmers were forced to guard their produce in centers for a long time.
Published – May 6, 2026 10:20 AM IST
